QQQ vs XLV
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XLV?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
XLV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.7%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | QQQ | XLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $44.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.49% |
| Holdings | 107 | 63 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +7.24% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | +20.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +9.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | +6.27% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -40.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $13,554 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 60.7% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 11, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs XLV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 27.5 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XLV Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while XLV returned +20.42%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 7.24% for XLV.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +9.41% for XLV; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +6.27% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.01% annualized vs +6.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 14.2% for XLV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -83.0% for QQQ and -40.6% for XLV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XLV charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $8 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.49% for XLV.
Holdings Overlap
3.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings XLV also owns. 14.0% of XLV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
XLV and QQQ share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 61 in XLV, against full books of 107 and 63.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 102 and 61 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 87 positions XLV does not, 93.4% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in XLV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.97% | 3.71% | 2.74% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 0.72% | 2.76% | 2.04% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 0.58% | 2.24% | 1.66% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 0.54% | 2.10% | 1.56% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.35% | 1.31% | 0.96% |
| IDXXIdexx Laboratories Inc. | 0.20% | 0.77% | 0.57% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.14% | 0.55% | 0.41% |
| GEHCGe Healthcare Technologies Inc | 0.14% | 0.55% | 0.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XLV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or XLV?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XLV charges 0.08%. XLV is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XLV?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +20.42% for XLV, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +13.01% vs +6.98% for XLV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XLV?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 14.2% for XLV. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs XLV -40.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XLV?
QQQ and XLV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and XLV?
14.0% of XLV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 14.0% of XLV's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 61 in XLV.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or XLV?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XLV yields 1.49%, so XLV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLV better than QQQ?
XLV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.